Resilient, panel attached stud fastener



y 1955 w. c. SMITH 2,709,390

RESILIENT, PANEL ATTACHED STUD FASTENER Filed June 3, 1952 JUL/2772103. Msslgy Stuff?! E a JQM 2g United States 2,709,391] RESELIENT, PANEL ATTACHED STUD FASTENER Wesley C. Smith, Toledo, ()hio, assignor to Prestole Corporation, Toledo, Ghio, a corporation of Michigan Application June 3, 1952, Serial No. 291,548 1 Ciairn. (Cl. 85-36) Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear,

and for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, em- 1 bodiments of the invention are shown ing drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a composite perspective view of a supporting panel and a clip for attachment thereto, the latter on the accompanybeing adapted for reception of a headed rivet carried by a door handle, for example, which is applied thereto from the opposite side of the panel;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the clip shown in Figure 1, applied to the supporting panel and showing by broken lines the position of the clip prior to its being secured in position; and

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the clip mounted on the inner face of a supporting panel and a door handle applied to the outer face in position of use.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention shown on Figures 1 to 3 comprises a panel having a key hole which includes an enlarged portion 10a and a branching narrow elongate portion 19b providing a pair of spaced stop shoulders 10c. Aligned with the key hole 10 and spaced a short distance therefrom is a rectangular assembling hole 11. In this instance, the panel P may comprise the door panel of a cooking stove for household use and a clip S of sheet metal is mounted on the inner face of the panel. The clip S comprises a one-piece spring metal structure having a flat body portion 12 in the central portion of which is a substantially semi-circular countersunk ledge 13. Extending from one end of the body portion 12 is a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally and downwardly inclined ramp fingers 14 which have integral fiat terminal tabs 15 substantially parallel with the body portion 12. Struck from the inner sides of the terminal tabs 15 are fingers 16 which incline downwardly and inwardly in a direction away from the free ends of the tabs 15. It will be manifest that a slot 17 is disposed between the ramp fingers 14, merging with the U-shaped slot which is bounded by the ledge 13. At the other end of the body 12 is an integral wall 18 which inclines longitudinally downward similar to the inclination of the ramp fingers 14. The inclined wall 18 terminates in a fiat terminal portion 19 which is also parallel to the body 12 and substantially centrally of the terminal portion 19 is a downwardly inclined lanced tongue 20, which inclines in a direction toward the inclined fingers 16.

The clip S is applied to the inner side of the door panel P by first engaging the tongue 20 into the square hole 11 so that it engages the edge of that hole adjacent the key hole 10. In that position, the fastener will be dis 1 atent posed in the. broken line position shown on Figure 2, in which the inclined fingers 16 are short of the enlarged portion 10a of the key hole. However, by flexing the clip and imposing a downward pressure thereon, the fingers 16 are forced into the enlarged portion 10a. of the key hole to engage over the shoulders 10c, thereby to" hold the clip in position; It' will be understood that the clip is of spring metal so that its inherent resilience will cause it to remain in the applied position and in the applied position, the slot 17 is directly over and in alignment with the elongate portion 10b of the key hole.

D represents a door handle and rigid therewith and projecting from a boss thereof is a headed rivet 21. The handle is applied by inserting the rivet 21 through the enlarged portion 10a of the key hole 10 and then forcing the head of the rivet along the inner edge portions of the ramp fingers 14, flexing the clip toward the panel, until the head seats itself in the countersunk ledge 13. It will thus be understood that the diameter of the head of the rivet 21 is slightly greater than the width of the slot 17 and upon forcing the rivet to its final position as shown by the full lines in Figure 3, the clip is placed under some tension thereby effectively retaining the rivet and the handle D in the applied position. Thus any vibration will not loosen the handle which is securely held in position but which can be removed without dithculty should that be necessary.

From the above, it will be apparent that the clip may be first assembled to the door panel, whereafter the door assembly may be completed and the handle applied to the door as a final step. As applied, the clip can be removed when necessary but will withstand severe shocks or jars without becoming disengaged. This is important in the mass production of stoves, for example, since the clip may be assembled along the line of production and will remain in place while subsequent operations are being performed on the stove. Since these stoves are enameled, it is important that the clip will not chip the enamel during the assembly operation, and in view of the structure of the clip as above described, there is no possibility of the enamel being chipped or scratched. The only pressure exerted on the enamel is by the two fingers when the handle D is pushed into position of use, but the bearing area of the fingers is suflicient to militate against any damage to the enamel.

From the above, it will be manifest that I have produced an exceedingly simple and reliable clip which can be conveniently applied to a panel and retained in place firmly and securely due to its inherent resilience. Liability of the clip shifting from its applied position is clearly impossible. No tools are required for the application of these fasteners to their assembled position, finger pressure being sutficient to achieve the desired application.

It is to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and operation may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention especially as defined in the appended claim.

What I claim is:

A fastener comprising a flat body portion of spring metal, a pair of laterally spaced flat downwardly and longitudinally inclined ramp fingers integral with one end of the body portion, flat terminal tabs on the lower ends of said fingers disposed substantially parallel to the body portion, downwardly extending attaching fingers struck from the inner sides of said terminal tabs respectively, said body portion having a U-shaped slot surrounded by a depressed rim portion, said slot opening into the space between said ramp arms enabling a fastener head to slide up said ramp arms and snap into said depressed rim portion, a downwardly and longitudinally inclined wall at the other end of said body portion, a flat terminal portion at the outer end of said inclined wall 3 4- disposed parallel to said body portion, a tongue struck 2,391,046 Tinnerman Dec. 18, 1945 from said terminal portion and inclining generally toward 2,400,666 Tinnerman May 21, 1946 said attaching fingers. 2,566,886 Hartman Sept. 4, 1951 2,571,786 Tinnerman Oct. 16, 1951 References Cited in the file Of this patent 5 2,616,142 Tinnerman Nov. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 3 5,5 0 Parkinson 1905 793,537 France 23 1935 1,606,289 Bowers Nov. 9, 1926 2,208,727 Marshall July 23, 1940 10 

